16.05.2025 17:05
Former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu had stated two years ago that there were 86 members left in the terrorist organization PKK. During the process of a terrorism-free Turkey, Soylu, whose words have come back to the agenda, made a statement regarding the issue and responded to the criticisms directed at him.
The former Minister of Interior and AK Party Member of Parliament Süleyman Soylu's statement in 2023, "What will they lay down their weapons for? There are 86 terrorists left, they can't breathe," became a topic of discussion on social media.
TURHAN ÇÖMEZ HAD STRONGLY RESPONDED
İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez reminded Soylu of his 2023 PKK remarks and asked, "Look, recently, the terrorist organization PKK held a so-called congress, and 232 people attended this congress. Reports are in that direction. Well, not long ago, a person who served as the Minister of Interior in this country said, 'What will they lay down their weapons for? There are 86 terrorists left. They can't breathe.' It seems that a person who has served as the Minister of Interior in this country is incapable of seeing what is right under his nose. Is there such a governance in this country?"
"GOVERNING THE STATE AND DOING POLITICS IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS"
After this criticism, Süleyman Soylu broke his silence. He stated, "In many platforms in the Parliament and the media, there has been a distortion of the statement 'Süleyman Soylu said 86 members of the terrorist organization while the PKK's dissolution congress gathered with 232 people, the figures he provided are incorrect.' Our answer is how the state identifies members of the terrorist organization both domestically and abroad," and added, "Governing the state and doing politics is a serious business. Throughout the history of the fight against terrorism, twice a year, the Ministry of Interior, the General Staff, and MIT come together to determine the number of armed terrorist organization members inside and outside, those who joined the organization, those who surrendered, those who came from inside to outside – those who came from outside to inside, the camp areas, logistics, and organizational strategies, and this information is shared with the public as deemed necessary."
"WE MUST NOT FALL FOR THEIR SLANDERS"
Continuing his words, Minister Soylu stated that they provided figures at different times, saying, "For example, we provided these figures before the 2023 elections; we also provided them in 2022; we provided them in 2021. I said there are approximately 3,000 members of the terrorist organization in this region; the number of terrorists is between 2800-3200. Armed collaborators are between 12750-14550. Where is this? On the Iraq line, the average is between 2425-2835, which is around 2650-2700. Where is this? Iran-Iraq-Syria. This number already exists outside; and this number is continuously monitored by the Republic of Turkey. Inside, who is where; which line they are on; how many there are; what is happening in Botan, what is happening in the midfield, and what is happening in Serhat; all of this, who is who, how many there are; in which areas they are located, is the result of long-term monitoring by the Republic of Turkey, and this information has been formed as a result of these long-term follow-ups, and strategies have been developed based on this. It is necessary not to fall for the slanders of those who produce words saying they will create enmity on social media."